U.K.: RACIAL DISCONTENT AT SCHOOL WHERE 80 PER CENT ARE COLOURED STUDENTS

Record ID: 588406

  • Title: U.K.: RACIAL DISCONTENT AT SCHOOL WHERE 80 PER CENT ARE COLOURED STUDENTS
  • Date: 10th November 1965
  • Summary: 1. GV EXT OF SCHOOL. 0.07 2. CU ROAD SIGN "GROVE LANE" 0.09 3. SV CROSSING WARDEN SEES CHILD OVER ROAD. 0.16 4. LV BOYS AND GIRLS IN PLAYGROUND. 0.20 5. SV GIRLS PLAYING (2 SHOTS) 0.29 6. SCU PAN...COLOURED AND WHITE CHILDREN WATCH. 0.21 7. SV CHILDREN PLAYING (3 SHOTS) 0.47 8. SV BOYS GO INTO SCHOOL. 0.52 9. GV SCHOOL. 0.55 Initials JT/VS/MR/PC JT/VS/MR/JM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th November 1965 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BIRMINGHAM, U.K.
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA8PVAUZ0GKR0RMA035Q7V05TG4
  • Story Text: THE CLASSROOMS OF A SCHOOL IN ENGLAND WHERE 80 PER CENT OF THE STUDENTS ARE COLOURED HAVE BECOME THE SCENE OF A RACIAL PROTEST. THIRTY ANGRY WHITE MOTHERS ARE THREATENING A BOYCOTT, CLAIMING THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING HELD BACK BY SLOW-LEARNING IMMIGRANTS.

    BUT THE HEADMISTRESS OF THE 420-PUPIL GROVE LANE PRIMARY SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM, CENTRAL ENGLAND, HAS URGED PATIENCE. "DON'T DO ANYTHING RASH," SHE TOLD THE 30 PARENTS AT A MEETING CALLED TO DISCUSS THEIR GRIEVANCES.

    HOWEVER, THE PARENTS ARE THREATENING MORE ACTION. ONE OF THEM SAID THEY WERE NOT ANTI-COLOURED, BUT COMPLAINED THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE "PROGRESSING BACKWARDS," DOING WORK OTHER STUDENTS HAD COMPLETED TWO YEARS EARLIER. THEY HAVE CALLED ANOTHER MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT (THURSDAY).

    THE HEADMISTRESS, 56-YEAR-OLD MISS EDITH WILKES, SAID A BOYCOTT COULD LEAD TO RACIAL PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE AREA, IF IT GOT OUT OF HAND. SHE ADDED THAT IT WAS "TOUGH ON THE FEW WHITE CHILDREN IN A SCHOOL LIKE THIS," BUT WAS OPPOSED TO THE SCHOOL BEING ENTIRELY COLOURED "BECAUSE THAT IS SEGREGATION."
    (THE BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION COMMITTEE SAID THE PARENTS' PROTEST WOULD BE "CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY").
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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